Miter box



Sept. 8, 1936. N. MQ LUDWIG 2,053,569

1 MITER BOX Filed oct.' 1, 1954 5 sheets-Sheet4 1 N. M. LUDWIG Sept 8,1936.

MITER BOX '5 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Oct. 1, 1954 Sept. 8, 1936. N, M,LUDWlG 2,053,569

l MITER Box Filed oct. 1, 1954 v 3 sheets-sheet s Patented Sept. 8, 1936UNITED STATESl PATENT OFFICE MITER BOX Nicholas M. Ludwig, Racine, Wis.

Application October 1, 1934, Serial No. 746,398

11 Claims. (Cl. 143-86) This invention appertains to devices forfacilitating the cutting of corner beads, moldings, and other metalstrips, transversely on various angles, and is an improvement on myprior Patent No. 1,718,791, issued to me June 25, 1929.

One of the salient objects of my invention is to generally improve myabove mentioned patent, whereby pieces or strips of various sizes andshapes can be conveniently held and clamped vduring the sawingoperation, and to provide novel means for guiding the saw blade duringsuch operation.

Another important object of my invention is the provision of novel meansfor adjusting the worky support and for initially adjusting the positionof the work holding clamps relative to the work support, whereby varioussizes and shapes of metal pieces can be received and held in theAfurther object of my invention is to provide novel means forconstructing the work clamps themselves, whereby various characters,shapes, and sizes of work can be rrnly held on the Work support, wherebymovement thereof will be prevented during the sawing operation,irrespective of at what angle the same are being cut.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a miter box,particularly adapted for sawing metal pieces embodying a work support,V

vand an adjustable saw guide with work clamping jaws disposed onopposite sides of the guide and with novel means for simultaneouslyurging the jaws into and out of work engaging position.

A further object of my invention is to provide a pair of yielding workclamps with novel means for equalizing the pressure on the clamps,whereby the work will be iirmly held, irrespective of the contour andcharacteristics thereof.

A further object of my invention is the provision of foot treadleactuated means for simultaneously operating the jaws, said foot pedalbeing so arranged as to lock the jaws in Work gripping position when thepedal is in one position, and for holding the jaws raised when thep-edal is in another position.

A further important object of my invention is the provision of a noveldevice for cutting metal frame-pieces for window screens and theirscreen clamping strips, the jaws being so constructed as tosimultaneously grip the frame-piece and the clamping strip, whereby bothpieces can be cut simultaneously and on the same angle.

A still further object of my invention is to proyvide novel means forconstructing the frame of the box, whereby the same will be durable andecient in use, and whereby the same can be placed upon the market at areasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view, the in- =ventin consists inthenovel construction, ar-

rangement, and formation of parts as will be hereinafter morespecifically described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings,

in which drawings:

Figure i is a front elevation of my improved miter box showing the sameattached to a fragment of arwork bench or table, the foot treadle beingAshown in full lines in one position and in dotted lines in its otherposition;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of my improved device; v

VFigure 3 is an end elevation of the same.

Figure 4 is a transverse section through my improved miter box taken onthe line 4 4 of Figure 2, illustratingv the novel construction of thejaws for engaging and holding the window frame strip and clamping strip;

Figure 5 is a detail cross section through the miter box taken on theline 5 5 of Figure 2,

showing the position of the work holder reversed,

and a jaw engaging acorner bead or molding;

Figurey 6 is a detail section taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 2 showingthe rear saw guide.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein` similar referencecharacters designate corre-v sponding parts throughout the severalviews, theletter A generally indicates my improved miter box, and B awork bench with which the` same can be associated. The miter box Aincludes a pair of spaced transversely extending channel frame-piecesIIJ to which is bolted, riveted, or spot-welded, the angle-shaped frameplate II. disposed flange I2 and a depending vertically disposed flangeI3. The iiange I2 overlies kthe top of the channel pieces I0, while thevertical flange I3 lies over the front ends of said frame pieces. Thesethree members constitute a rugged frame `on which the various elementsof my device are mounted.

Adjustably secured to the front flange I3 are a pair of spaced faceplates I4 and I5. VThese,

face plates I4 and I5 adjustably carry the novel work clamping jaws I6nd Il. The jaws I6 and Il are movable (by means, vwhich will be laterdescribed) toward the work holder I8.

The face plates I4 and I5 are adjustable so that This frame plate IIincludes a horizontally curing the face plates in position and, asshown,

each face plate is provided with a pair of verticallyy extending slotsI9 through which extend work can be conveniently supported. Thus, when anarrow piece of Ywork is being cut, as shown in, Figure 3, the flange 2|is disposed uppermost, but

when a relatively wide piece of work is being cut the ange 22 isdisposed uppermost.

In all positions of the work holder the flange 23 is preferably placedin abuttingrelation to the face plates I4 and I5. Suitable removablescrews 24 can be employed for holding` the work holder in place, andthese screws can be threaded through the desired ange 2| or 22 into thehorizontal flange I2 ofthe frame plate II.

The work to be operated upon is placed upon the work'holder so that theportion to be cut lies between the face plates I4 and I5, after whichthe work is held by the clamps I6 and I1.

When the Work is rmly clamped, the same is cut or sawed on the desiredangle by a hacksaw S, and a novel guide 25 is provided therefor. Thisguide will be later described in detail.

Attention is'now invited to the novel construction of the work clampingjaws I6 and I1, and it is to be vnoted that these jaws are identical inconstruction. Each of the jaws include a substantially U-shaped body inplan, including a ifront connecting body plate 26 and rearwardlyextending'legs 21. These legs 21 have rigidly secured thereto a bottomplate 28. This bottom plate has loosely mounted thereon a transverselyextending wedge-shaped jaw 29, the purpose of '..which will be later setforth.

f-ferred adjusted position by means of a headed bolt which extendsthrough the bottom plate 28, andA slots formed in the' jaws 30 and 3|. Awinged nut 33 can be employed for holding the jaws 30 and 3| tightly inplace.

AAs heretofore intimated, the jaws I6 andr I1 in their entirety aremovable toward and away from the'work support I8, and consequently thesejaws I6 and I1 are slidable on the face plates I4 and I5. These faceplates I4 and I5 are provided with vertical slots 34 in which are,sldably mounted slide plates 35. On the outer surface of the face platesI4 and I5: are arranged holding plates 36, andthe slide plates 35, theholding plates 35 and the bodies of the jaws I6 and I1 are united bymeans of fastening elements or the like 31. The jaws I6'an'd'I1`ar'enormally held in a raised position. by means of springs 38" which arelcoiled about guide rods 39. The guide rods 39 A are connected at theirupper ends to angle plates 4U rigidly secured to the holding plates 36.These rods 39' are guided in their sliding movement by means of brackets4I through which the rods extend. The brackets 4| are rigidly connectedwith the face plates I 4 and I5. Thus, the opposite ends of the springs38 bear respectively'against the brackets 40 and 4|. Y

Novel means is provided for simultaneously moving the jaws I5 and- I1,against the tension of their springs 38 to a work gripping position,and this means includes alongitudinally extend-` 2,o5a,5e9

ing equalizing bar 42, which lies in front of the face plates I4 and I5.

The opposite ends of the equalizing bar 42 have pivotally connectedthereto the lower terminals of the guide rods 39. v Y- l Connected tothe transverse center.H of the equalizing bar 42 by means of arelatively heavy contractile coil spring 43 is an operating link 44.The, lower end of the operating link 44 is piv- "otall'y connected `asat 45 to an actuating foot treadle 46., The'foot treadle 46 has formedon its opposite ends foot pedals 41, and the foot treadle 46 isAplvotally connected at a point equidistant itsVv ends, as at 48, to abottom rail 49 which can form a part of the work bench or table.

The operating link 44V can be made adjustable as to length, as shown,sothat the device can 'be utilized and connectedv with work-benches ofldifferent heights: Y Y

I layparticular stress on the use of the equalizingbar 42, in that bythe use of this bar I am enabled to equalize the pressure on'the workclamps I6 and I1, and thus the clamps will be rrnly and simultaneouslydrawn into engagement with the work, irrespective of the contouror'peculiarities thereof.

In Figure 1, the foot pedal is shown in its raised position andconsequently the clamps I5 and: I'IY are heldin their raised position.However, whenthe workr is placed on the holder or support I8, the footpedalv 41 on the left hand side is pressed downwardly. This movementthrough themedium of the link 44 and the spring 43 will draw down on theequalizing bar 42 and move the clamps I6 and I1 to their work-engaging'position. This movement of the foot pedal will throw the operating link01T center and consequently the clamps I6 and I1 will be automaticallylocked in their work gripping position.

I also lay particular stress on the means 25 for guiding the saw S'during the cutting of the work. The saw guide 25-includes a fronttubular guide sleeve 5U and a rear tubular guide sleeve 5|. The fronttubular guide'sleeve 50 is secured to a stud 52 which extends through anangle bracket 53 rigidly connected to theframe plate II between thefaceplatesv I4 and I5. Thel stud 52 is held in'position/ bymeans of a locknut 54. A diametrically extending saw blade slot 55 is formed in thetubular guide sleeve and the guide sleeve can be turned so as toposition the guide slot at the desired angle relative to the Work byloosening the nut 54.

The rear tubularguide sleeve 5I is constructed similar' to thefrontguide sleeve 50 and the same is also provided with a. diametricallyextending saw bladeY guide'slot 56. The lowerend of the guide sleeve 5Icarries a stud 51 which is freely rotatably mounted in'an adjustableblock 58. The adjustable block is slidably mounted on a U-shaped framebar 59, and is held-in any preferred set position on the frame bar bymeans of a set screw 69. The legs of the U-shaped frame bar 59` areslidably received by thechannel pieces IB of the frame, so that theframepiece 59 can be moved toward and away from the work support I8 and'the'. front tubular guide 50. An adjusting screw 6| is employed forholding the frame-piece 59 in its adjusted position. The-blade I2of thesaw is received directly within the slots 55y and 56 of the guidesleeves, and thus-the blade itself is guided during the reciprocation ofthe saw.. Obviously, by adjusting the sleeves 50: and 5|, the saw .cankbe held at any angle` so that.the1wor1can.abe cut.

65 in its grooves, and in accordance with my in` vention, this bead isrmly gripped and held in p place so that the same and the strip can besimultaneously cut. Thus, the loosely mounted wedge-shaped jaw 29 ridesinto the groove of the strip against the bead and rmly holds the same inplace. By having the wedge jaw 29 loosely mounted, the same will readilywork its way into the groove for engagement with the bead.

In Figure 5 I have shown the position of the work support iii reversedfor receiving a piece of molding or corner bead M. In this figure, themanner in which the jaws grip the molding is clearly shown.

I lay particular stress on the fact that the saw guide sleeves 56 and 5ireceive and guide the saw blade itself, and these sleeves are formedfrom hardened material, so that the cuts therein will not be enlargedincident to the constant use of the saw.

From the foregoing. description, it can be seen that I have provided anespecially simple and durable form of miter box, in which novel means-is provided for clamping the work, in which novel means is provided foroperating the clamp, and in which novel means is provided for guidingthe saw blade.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or thescope of my invention, but what I claim as new is:

l. A miter box of the character set forth comprising a supporting frame,a work support clamping jaws movable toward and away from the worksupport, a saw guide, and means fo-r moving the jaws toward and awayfrom the work support, each of said jaws including horizontal workengaging faces and vertically disposed work engaging faces, saidvertical work engaging faces being adjustable in a horizontal plane onthe horizontal work-engaging faces.

2. A miter box comprising a supporting frame, a work support, a sawguide, clamping jaws on the frame disposed on each side of the saw guideand movable toward and away from the work support, resilient meansnormally holding the jaws in an elevated position away from the worksupport, and yieldable means for simultaneously urging the jaws towardthe work support and into work clamping position, said means includingan equalizing bar having its opposite ends operatively connected to thejaws, a contractile coil spring connected to the transverse center ofthe bar, and an operating link connected with the spring.

3. A miter box comprising a work support, a saw guide, clamping jawsdisposed on opposite sides of the saw guide and movable toward and awayfrom the work support, depending guide rods connected with the clampingjaws, expansion springs coiled about the rods normally urging the jawsinto an elevating position, an equalizing bar, means pivotallyconnecting the guide rods to the opposite ends of the equalizing bar, anoperating link pivotally connected with the transverse center of thebar, a double ended foot treadle rockably mounted equidistant its ends,and means pivotally connecting the link to the foot treadle of one sideof its pivot point.

4. A miter box comprising a frame, a work support on the frame, a pairof spaced face plates, a saw guide arranged between said face plates,slidable clamping jaws on the face plates mounted above the worksupport, means for simultaneously actuating the clamping jaws, and meansadjustably securing the face plates to the frame, whereby the jaws canbe initially adjusted relative to the work support.

5. A miter box comprising a frame, clamping jaws on the frame, means forsimultaneously operating the clamping jaws, a saw guide, a work supporton the frame disposed below the jaws, said work support including achannel-shaped strip having horizontally disposed flanges, and aconnecting vertical flange, the horizontal anges being of differentwidths for selective engagement with the frame, and means detachablysecuring the flange engaging the frame to said frame.

6. A miter box comprising a supporting frame, a ,work support on thesupporting frame, a pair of spaced clamping jaws, movable towards andaway from the work support, means for operating said jaws, and a sawguide, said saw guide including front and rear rotatable sleeves havingsaw blade receiving kerfs therein, a U-shaped supporting bar movabletowards and away from the work support means adjustably securing the barin a selected position, a block slidably mounted longitudinally on thebar, and means connecting the rear sleeve with said block.

'7. A miter box comprising a frame including a pair of spaced channelbars, an angle plate including a horizontal and a vertically disposedflange, means connecting the channel bars with the lower face of thehorizontal flange, a reversible work support detachably connected withthe horizontal ange, face plates connected with the vertical ange, a sawguide, and adjustable yielding jaws carried by the face plates andmovable towards and away from the work support.

8. In a miter box of the character described, a work support, a clampmovable towards and away from the work support having a work-engagingface, and a depending wedge-shaped gripping jaw on the clamp, said jawbeing loosely mounted and disposed substantially at right angles to saidface.

9. In a miter box, a work support, a clamp movable towards and away fromthe work support including a horizontally disposed work-gripping face,and adjustable vertical jaws slidably mounted on said face.

10. In a miter box, a work support, a clamp movable towards and awayfrom the work support having a work-gripping face, a loosely mountedwedge-shaped jaw depending from said face, and adjustable jaws havingvertically disposed clamping faces mounted on said clamp.

11. A miter box comprising a frame including a pair of spaced 'channelbars, an angle plate including a horizontally and a vertically disposedilange, means connecting the channel bars with the lower face of thehorizontal flange, a work support connected with the'angle plate, a sawguide, and adjustable yieldable jaws carried by the face plates andmovable toward and away from the work support.

NICHOLAS M. LUDWIG.

